Miami Swim Week Recap 2015

Photo taken at The Mondrain Hotel South Beach

Swim Week made such an impression on us last year that we had to go back for round two and this time around we brought our friend Natalie along from The Fashionably Broke. Swim week is much different from New York Fashion Week, it takes place in Miami and the vibe is way more laid back and you are actually able to rub elbows with designers, models and celebrities. We were practically besties with Mara Hoffman and her family by the end of the trip since they were also staying at The Shore Club (highly recommended btw- more on our stay there later). Clearly she has good taste. We also spotted Brody Jenner, Natasha Oakley, Shea Marie, Leanne Rimes and Eddie Cibrian throughout our time in Miami which was definitely a high point of the trip.

Shea Marie of our favorite blog Peace Love Shea and her gorgeous new line SAME SWIM

Unlike New York Fashion Week, the shows take place by the most fabulous hotel pools and cocktails are also usually involved (huge plus). Since Mercedes Benz dropped Fashion Week all together, Swim Week was also effected but luckily local Miami PR company, Cece Fineburg PR, stepped in to save the day. Things were a bit different this year, the shows were scattered around South Beach and there were way more presentation style shows than runway shows but it made for a more relaxing and laid back time for everyone and isn’t that why we go to the beach anyway? One of our favorite presentations of Swim Week was by Shea Marie, our favorite blogger and now swimwear designer of Same Swim. Her show was held on the beach at Edition Hotel, so we kicked off our heels and enjoyed a few cocktails while we viewed her debut line, mingled with press, buyers and bloggers.  These suits were everything!

Natasha Oakley and Devan Brugman of Bikini A Day Shots from the Tori Praver show Mara Hoffman presentation at The Versace Mansion

Another list topper was the Mara Hoffman show that took place at the old Versace Mansion. We waited for about an hour in a line full of pretentious, self-righteous jerks but once we entered the gates to the mansion, it made all of the craziness we had just endured worth it. Just being in the Mansion courthouse would have been enough for us but viewing Mara’s gorgeous collection on top of that while sipping mojitos, was the icing on the cake. Well done Mara, well done.

Our days were jam packed with shows, parties, shooting looks for the blog but we were sure to make time for some pool/beach time in between. We stopped by the Cabana show, where hundreds of swimwear and resort wear brands set up their collections for buyers to peruse. We always check out this show because it’s a great opportunity for us to see the new collections in person, touch the fabrics and make connections with designers and brand reps. The show environment is inspired by the best beach resorts around the world from Tulum, to Cote de’Azur, to Ibiza – so as you can imagine Cabana is the equivalent to heaven for any fashion and beach loving soul.

Time flew by and before we knew it the weekend was over and it was time to head back home. We are beyond excited about the swim trends to come for 2016 and we can’t wait to share more about them soon.

Be on the look out because we are putting together a video montage of our favorite moments of Miami Swim Week so make sure you subscribe to our weekly emails so you don’t miss it!

xo

Sarah and Michelle